Baltimore mayor launches school attendance challenge to tackle chronic absenteeism
BALTIMORE - Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is looking to tackle chronic absenteeism and tardiness by launching a friendly competition between schools.
Scott and Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises visited schools across the city Monday morning as the first day of the school year got underway.
On a stop at Booker T. Washington Middle School, the mayor challenged students to miss less class announcing the inaugural "Mayor's Attendance Challenge."
"I hope to play a small part in the larger work that city schools is doing to improve attendance and decrease chronic absenteeism," he said.
Mayor Scott is challenging every student to be on time every day and will seek to recognize schools making the most progress in improving attendance periodically throughout the year.
The middle school in Druid Hill was picked as the starting point for the challenge because it was the school with the most improved attendance rate last year. As such, it became the first school to be awarded the Mayor's Attendance Cup - a shiny golden trophy.
"Every quarter, I will hand deliver an official trophy and certificate to the school with the most improvement in their attendance," the mayor said. "And at the end of the year, I will join a special celebration for the school that experienced the most growth in their attendance throughout the whole school year."
In addition to a trophy and certificate awarded by the mayor that the schools can display, Mayor Scott intends to hold a special event for schools that have achieved significant progress at the end of the school year.
"Consistent attendance is one of the most significant markers of a student's achievement, connection in school, and success in future grades or their future outside of school," said Mayor Scott. "The COVID-19 pandemic had such a deep impact on kids of all ages, and we're continuing to overcome the obstacles that it placed on students across the city. We want to bring as much awareness as possible to the importance of consistent attendance, because we need an all hands on deck approach to ensure every student is in school, every day. This Mayor's Attendance Challenge will hopefully be a fun way of reminding our students of the importance of daily attendance while also recognizing the progress being made."
The Mayor also visited City Neighbors Hamilton, James McHenry Elementary School, Bay Brook Elementary and Middle School and Arlington Elementary School.